India took active part in drafting of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Dr (Mrs). Hansa Mehta, a Gandhian political activist and social worker who led the Indian delegation, had made important contributions in drafting of the Declaration, especially highlighting the need for reflecting gender equality . India is fully committed to the rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration

India is party to the six core human rights covenants/conventions, namely, the International Covenant on civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (and its two Optional Protocols) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2007 India became one of the earliest countries to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2 011 India ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

India was an active participant in the former UN Commission on Human Rights, o f which it was a member since the Commission’s inception in 1947. Following the replacement of the Commission by the Human Rights Council in 2006, India was elected to this body successively in 2006, 2007 and 2011 with one of the highest number of votes. I ndia has been actively participating in the work of the Human Rights Council, including its Universal Periodic Review mechanism, and closely interacts with the High Commissioner for Human Rights .

Transatlantic Slave Trade

India contributed US $ 250,000 in April 2010 to the UN Trust Fund for the construction of a Permanent Memorial in New York to honour the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, making it the largest contributor to the Fund

Gender Issues and Women’s Empowerment

India attaches great importance to gender equality and the empowerment of women and is fully committed to the Beijing Platform of Action. India was most actively involved in the establishment of UN WOMEN and actively supports this newe st UN entity